118 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GAEDEN 
thought so beautiful, that (as it is a native of South America) it was thought worth raising on a hotbed before 
planting out. The genus Crotalaria contains many very showy annual plants, some of which are hardy ; and 
the genera Dorycnium, Lotus, Ononis, &c., a few each. 
GENUS I. 
CROTALARIA, Lin. THE CROTALARIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx 5-lobed, fiubilabiate. Vexillum 
cordate, large. Keel foliate, acuminated. Stamens monadelphous. 
Style bearded laterally. Legume turgid, with ventricose valves, 
Lin. Si/st. MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 
usually many-seeded. Herbs or shrubs with simple or palmately 
compound leaves, and usually yellow flowers, rarely purplish. — 
(G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — Notwithstanding the extraordinary splendour of the flowers of plants belonging to this 
genus, it is comparatively little known; and though nearly all the annual species composing it have been 
introduced, they appear to have been lost ; for we have not been able to discover any place where we can 
procure seeds of them. Under these circumstances, we have not thought it worth while to fill our pages by 
going into the botanical details of each species ; but we have only said a few words on each, so as to give a 
general idea of the plant. The word Crotalaria signifies a Castanet, and alludes to tlie pods of this genus being 
inflated, and the seeds rattUng in them, when ripe. 
C. ALATA, Ham. et Roxb. 
A plant with pale yellow flowers, and winged stems, growing about a foot high. It is a native of Nepal, 
and was introduced in 1818. 
C. PLATYCARPA, Link. 
Large yellow flowers, with a rich brownish standard, winged stem, and very broad pods. Tlie plant grows 
above a foot high. It is a native of North America, and was introduced in 1823. 
C. PUESHII, Dec, syn. C. L^VIGATA, Pursk. 
A native of North America; introduced in 1800. C. parvifloba, Roth., introduced in 1817, and 
C. SAGiTTALis, Lin., introduced in 1731, are also natives of North America. 
C. ESPADILLA, H. B. et Kunth. 
A very remarkable species, described by Humboldt. The leaves, when they first expand, are of a golden 
yellow, but gradually become green with age ; and both the leaves and stem are covered with long silky hairs. 
It is a native of South America, where it is called Espadilla. It has not yet been introduced. 
C. VERRUCOSA, Lin. ; Bot. Rep. t. 308; Bot. Reg. t. 1137 ; Bot. Mag. t. 3034. 
A beautiful species, vrith purple, blue, green, and white flowers, with anthers of a golden yellow. It is a 
native of the East Indies, and is generally kept in the stove ; but if raised in a hotbed, and then planted out 
into a warm border, it will flower well. It was introduced in 1731. There is a variety sometimes called 
C. acuminata, with blue flowers. 
C. RETUSA, Lin. ; Bot. Reg. t. 253. 
A splendid species, with very large golden yellow flowers, the standard of which is sometimes a bright 
purple. A native of the East Indies, but found also in the Mauritius, and in the West Indian islands. 
